How to check the airsoft gun after purchase?
Airsoft gun test after purchase
Let's start with two issues. The first is that the vast majority of airsoft guns bought in online stores will be operational when they reach us. And even if anything would be wrong with them, we can count on post-purchase support. This is a big advantage compared to buying replicas on the secondary market, where we have no guarantee that everything actually works as it should.
The second thing is that we should be well prepared already at the stage of ordering the desired airsoft construction. It's a good idea to have a proper power source right away, i.e., a battery or gas, and ammunition, i.e., BBs. However, the exact selection of these elements is a topic for another article and here we will assume that it is behind us. In this article, we will also mainly focus on electric powered airsoft guns, because they are the best choice for beginners. Advanced players who decide on spring or gas replicas will probably not need such advice.
Safety when testing an airsoft gun
The issue of personal protection is very important in airsoft. It is no different when we test a newly purchased replica after it has been delivered home. We must remember a few basic rules. The first is eye protection. Even when we are alone in the room where we use the replica, we should wear protective glasses or a mask. Ricochets and other accidents happen, and it's easy to ruin your day with a lack of protection.
In addition, although it is unlikely in quite controlled conditions of testing replicas at home, remember to point the barrel only in a safe direction. I understand that not everyone has a garden where you can organize a makeshift shooting range. For example, I have a simple bullet trap made of cardboard boxes from online orders. Inside there is foil and other fillings from packages that effectively catch the BBs. Under no circumstances can we direct the replica's barrel towards other people or animals.
Checking the condition of the box
The first thing that catches our eye when the airsoft gun arrives is its box. And it is also the first step of our inspection. Let's check if it is not damaged, bruised or holes. Such damage may, but does not have to, indicate defects in the replica and accessories inside. Maybe the box just got damaged in transit. Still, it's worth checking out.
When we look at the carton from the outside, the next step is to check its contents. We can make a list or check on the Internet on the product card what is included in the set. We check that everything is in place and not damaged. Especially the airsoft gun, as probably the heaviest item in the box, may be at risk of damage if, for example, it was transported incorrectly.
When checking a replica, it is worth paying attention to a few critical places. All manipulators, protruding elements and the place where the stock is attached to the receiver are usually, regardless of the construction, exposed to damage. We will notice them easily in the form of cracks, or other damages.
Airsoft gun operation check
The next step will be for us to determine whether the airsoft gun is executing a cycle. Before we even start manipulating our new toy, the first step will be to read the instructions. It will help you figure out where the battery is located, how to set up the hop-up system and so on. When we have it behind us, we can take our airsoft gun, point its barrel in a safe direction and connect the battery. The main fault that we want to verify here is a short circuit that causes the replica to work even without pressing the trigger. If nothing happens when you plug in the power source, that's a good sign.
After checking the airsoft gun with only the battery, we can try whether it cycles at all. We switch the replica selector and, remembering to direct the barrel in a safe direction, we try to shoot. Everything will probably work fine. As an inexperienced player, it will be difficult for us to verify by ear whether everything is perfect. At this stage, it is enough that there are no very disturbing sounds such as ratcheting or grinding noise. In order not to leave our gearbox in the middle of the cycle, always make 2, 3 shots with a single fire before disconnecting the battery.
BBs feeding test
The last thing to verify is the feeding of BBs. We should have some kind of magazine with our replica. It's time to load it with bullets. If you have any doubts as to how to do this, you should find detailed instructions in the manual. Magazines are divided into two basic groups. The first, i.e., hi-caps, usually have a flap somewhere, which is used to pour the BBs. Then the magazine is winded up either with a knob or with a cable. Another type of magazines are mid-caps. We load the BBs into them by pushing them into the hole through which they are fed to the airsoft gun. Special ratchets in it will prevent them from flying out automatically after loading.
When we have a loaded magazine and checked whether our airsoft gun fires dry after connecting the battery, we can make a few test shots. If we can check the replica in the garden or in a place where, for example, skirmishes take place, it's great. We can immediately see if the BBs fly acceptably far, we can also try to set up a hop-up system. However, if we do not have such a possibility, it is enough to fire a few shots into the bullet trap. It is important to check whether our new airsoft gun feeds BBs at all. We connect the magazine and take a few test shots. If we do not hear disturbing sounds and the BBs have flown out of the barrel, we have basically checked everything that can be verified at home. Now all that's left to do is unclip the magazine, fire a few single fire shots to make sure that there are no BBs left in the airsoft gun and we can prepare for the next game.
What if the airsoft gun test comes back negative?
If you have encountered any problems at any of the above stages, it is best to contact the customer service of the store from which you bought the airsoft gun. There we should receive support with the vast majority of standard faults or instructions on how to deal with more complex problems. It is worth remembering, however, that such cases are rather a minority and with a high degree of probability our replica will work well straight from the box.
Author: Boreq
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